News Digest:
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:22 AM PDT
Good Afternoon
Oregon
Unemployment rate at 5.5 percent for April
PORTLAND(AP) — Officials say Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in April, nearly unchanged from March. The Oregon Employment Department said in a report Monday the March rate was revised to 5.6 percent. In April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined 1,600, following a loss of 2,700 jobs in March.
Idaho
Idaho superdelegate backs Obama in 2008 Democratic race
BOISE (AP) — Sen. Barack Obama won over Idaho’s lone remaining undecided superdelegate in the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. On Monday, state Democratic Party Chairman Keith Roark said he had no doubt Obama would run the stronger presidential race than his rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama has erased Clinton’s lead among superdelegates.
Idaho responds to
ballot lawsuit
BOISE (AP) — The Idaho secretary of state has asked the Idaho Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit from a man who says he is illegally being kept off the primary election ballot. Matt Yost, a Democrat, planned to run for the District 15 seat against incumbent Republican Sen. John Andreason, but the secretary of state’s office disqualified Yost after finding he wasn’t a registered voter in the district for a full year before filing for office.
Otter aides to tout ID state retiree benefits changes
BOISE (AP) — Aides for Gov. C.L. ‘‘Butch’’ Otter plan meetings with government workers and retirees in August and October across Idaho over proposed changes to their benefits plan. The state Legislature in April rejected the changes, saying not enough communication was done to ease fears of retired Idaho workers over the repercussions. Otter aims to trim benefit costs, to reduce an unfunded medical liability among retirees now at $442 million.
